Where Is God?

Why does God seem so far off?
Why does God hide Himself?

God excluded from education

Just a few decades ago it seems so normal to talk about God – and to even start the day with prayer – in a public classroom. But almost without us noticing, it has become unfashionable and even illegal to discuss or mention God in classroom. Considering that approximately 90% of elementary and secondary students are either in public or non-religious schools [as of 2004] – for seven hours a day, 180 days a year, it figures that the present educational system is producing whole generations of people that has diminished awareness of - let alone appreciation and reverence for - God’s presence and value in their lives.

Contrast that with God’s instruction about teaching children:

As if that was not enough, the entertainment industry – and media in general – had largely relegated God to the fringes of human experience and bombarded the young and old alike with images and messages that leave God out or which offers little or no redeeming value. On top of that we have so many distractions, so many concerns, we hardly have time to pause and reflect on God.

Is it any wonder that God does not seem so real anymore?

Whoever was or were responsible for this present state of affairs clearly knows which institutions to pull down – education and entertainment. They got captive audience. The exclusion of God from schools is no mere accident. It was a result of persistent effort by some elements in American society. Unfortunately it has such a profound influence on the American people. The apostle Paul encountered similar bunch of self-styled “intellectuals” of his day:

Sounds familiar? Paul describe these morally bankrupt losers quite bluntly:

This reminds me of many savants and politicians today who virtually worship God’s creation [nature and wildlife] more than God Himself. These same people would readily condone and support sexual relationships that Paul describes as “unnatural” in v.26-27 [men with men and women with women] – and even the murder and mutilation of innocent children [i.e abortion] as veritable sacrifices at the altar of personal convenience or expediency. Which is clearly why they want to eliminate God from their conscience.

And they obviously think they are getting away with it. And it is making it feels like God is so far off and so irrelevant to us today.

The fact is Satan owns the ultimate responsibility for what is happening in society today:

But these people of “reprobate mind” as Paul describes them would be held responsible for their own conduct. It is instructive to remember Sodom and Gomorrha [Gen.18-19].

Does God Hide Himself?

No less than King David himself felt that God hides Himself, when he observed evil men seemingly undeterred:

Yes, why does God seem aloof sometimes?
The prophet Isaiah explains:

Isaiah also wrote:

That is quite self-explanatory – our sins keep us apart from God. When we sin, God expects us to repent of it and stop doing it.

Here, God does not just want us to stop doing evil – He wants us also to forsake our own unrighteous ways and plan or thoughts.

Walking with God

In the “Old Testament” period we have men who walked with God – such as Enoch, Noah, Abraham David, and many others. Hebrews 11 describes how they and other faithful men walked with God. It is by walking with God that He could become more real to us. Walking with God is not something mysterious. It is simply obeying God and His law (1 Kings 11:38). It is plain fellowship and friendship with God:

The Greek word for walk [peripateo?] here implies a deeply involved focus and practice of God’s way. Fellowshipping or walking with God is not a mere weekend diversion from normal daily routine. It is really a continual practice and pursuit of God’s way of life as shown in His law. It goes without saying that fellowship with God involves constant conversation with Him not just in privacy of our room, but also anywhere we need or feel like conversing with Him – not unlike conversing with our spouse or friend – whether at work, or on the road, while shopping – anywhere! For indeed God is anywhere we go (Psalms 139:7-12)!

Of course God knows we would fail at times and He is more than willing to forgive us:

This is exactly the same as what Isaiah was saying [above].
In other words, it takes no less than walking with God for Him to become real to us. And it means getting to know Him and His will better by spending time studying His word (2 Tim.2:15)